Torkom Saraydarian's Blog

A beautiful reminder from Torkom's treasured works during this holy time of Wesak:
We are told that the whole Creation waits for the Sons of Light. The whole creation is waiting for us. Great Ones in subjective levels feel tremendous joy and blessings when even one person turns his face from darkness to light. Why? Because each of us is a part of the entire Universe. Without us, the Universeis not complete.
This is why Great Ones come cyclically to earth; They know that without you and me, They are not perfect. Did you ever consider that you are responsible for the progress of the Planetary Life, the Solar Life, and the Galactic Life? Either you are aiding Their perfection and your perfection, or you are making Them stand still or bounce back because of your weaknesses.
At the time of Wesak, let us try to build a beautiful vision in our minds. Let us try to stretch ourselves toward the Spiritual Triad of Beauty, Goodness, and Truth. Beauty, Goodness, and Truth are the three doors of synthesis. Truth will open the door. Goodness will give you the energy and courage to enter the door. Beauty will attract you and receive you in.
We must understand that Truth can be very dangerous and shocking. When the light of Truth comes, you may be shattered because you will see how for billions of years you worked against light. You will be devastated unless the Hand of Love takes you in. Without Love, you will not be able to enter the Hall of Truth. Beauty will attract you like a magnet into the Hall of Truth.
When you have Beauty, Goodness, and Truth, you will become a person of synthesis. You will be an initiate. You will be truly beautiful, and in your beauty, God will be glorified. You will have reached one of the states of progress toward Infinity. Infinity is waiting for you.
MEDITATION1. Sit, relax and close your eyes.2. Say The Great Invocation:
From the point of Light within the Mind of GodLet light stream forth into the minds of men.Let Light descend on Earth.
From the point of Love within the Heart of GodLet love stream forth into the hearts of men.May Christ return to Earth.
From the center where the Will of God is knownLet purpose guide the little wills of men —The purpose which the Masters know and serve.
From the center which we call the race of menLet the Plan of Love and Light work outAnd may it seal the door where evil dwells.
Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth.
3. Sound three OMs.
As you sound the three OMs, synthesize yourself with the Life behind all existence. Let your individuality melt away into that Great Life who is the source of energy, beauty, goodness, health, and creativity.
4. Say: “Salutations to the Great One.”
5. Meditate for ten minutes on the following seedthought: “Let my life be a labor of synthesis.”
6. Visualize a five-pointed star over your head and over the building you are in. This is the star of Christ.

7. Repeat The Great Invocation. _______________________________

-Excerpted from Wisdom of the Zodiac Volume 1, by Torkom Saraydarian pp. 333-335.
-For more information on the zodiac and full moons, see Torkom's collection of lectures in the 4 Volume Set, The Wisdom of the Zodiac

-If you enjoy Torkom's writings, please help us keep Torkom's Legacy alive by donating to the TSG Building Fund. 
Click here to read Gita's Saraydarian's letter regarding building a permanent home  for Torkom Saraydarian's work and University.

By J. V. Constas
Attachment, even if it is to a “good” idea, can be destructive to our personal relationships and society as a whole.
Many thoughtful and principled people often imagine better worlds and societies, usually free of struggle, conflict and competition. These well-intentioned men and women look at their failings, disappointments and frustrations in the present world and construct a mental image of a world fashioned in such a way that their weaknesses would not be liabilities, their aspirations would not be foiled by circumstance or their opinions otherwise challenged. In other words, the personal utopias we imagine are often manifestations of our desire to escape magically from our own limitations, rather than take up the heavy labor of individual effort to expand our consciousness and station in life.
Yet, attempting to impose our views on others to fix what is actually wrong with us is not utopia, instead it is dystopia.

The thoughts we form based on our desire, ideology, dogma or religion become very dear to us. But, the danger is that an idea mixed with desire can become a possession, very much like a favorite toy, a shiny car, a beautiful painting hanging on the wall or a vibrant plant in our nursery. Like a collection of rare coins or other objects of value on the physical plane, we can become possessive of our pet projects and ideas. We derive satisfaction from thinking about them and how brilliant we must be to imagine them in the first place.
In this state of self-congratulation, however, if someone confronts or challenges the thought we hold so dear, we get angry that they do not share our attachment. It is like an artist being told his painting is a piece of trash. It very well might be trash, but a confident and thoughtful creator will take care to understand the critic’s point of view of the critic. An egotistical one will instead condemn the critic!
When faced with this situation, I decided to try something new. First, I knew something was wrong, because I recognized that I was angry. I imagined that my opinion, the thought form that I created and believed was important, was a bright, shiny red square hovering above me. I tried to look at it from all points of view, attempting to be as dispassionate as possible, imagining what a critic would say about it, how a supporter would feel and the impact on society if it took hold in the culture. There would be millions of individual reactions, based on their individual points of view.
As I analyzed how I felt when someone did not believe the shiny red box was as fantastic as I thought it was, I became upset. Anger is not a natural condition for healthy people. After reflection and observation, I discovered there was a line connecting me to the thought form, and was determined to follow it and find out what inside of me it was pulling. I imagined a bright white string, or light, stretching from the box to me and I looked long and hard at what in my nature was anchoring this string of attachment.
As it turned out, the string of attachment ran right through my emotional body and was anchored in my ego. If someone did not like the red box, it was as if they were pulling on that string. The glossy red box of an idea became my puppeteer, tugging on my ego, who now felt like he was being challenged, and upset my emotional body, angering me. Now, they were in control, not me, and their natural reaction was to defend the shiny red box against all challengers, because as long as that string of attachment held firm, “I” was the box!
Recognizing this situation, I decided it was time to cut the cord and put an end to this dysfunction. I imagined cutting the string and letting the shiny red box float away, now untethered to my ego and allowing me the freedom to look at it a different way without injecting anger and frustration into my comments. Every time, I mean every time I have acted with anger as a motivating force, even so-called righteous anger, I have made mistakes.
Now with the string of attachment cut, I watched the shiny red box of an idea rise and float away like a kite on a windy day. My gaze followed the box as it herked and jerked upwards on the currents of emotion, desire and popular culture into the sky, and I discovered the Sun, whose brilliant rays enveloped everything. As it turned out, the Solar Logos, the Face of God, was there the whole time watching, just waiting for me to look up. It was only after I freed myself of attachment that I was able to see the beauty and fire that gives us all life.
How many other kites must I sacrifice?-----------------------------------------------
Mr. Constas is a Student of Ageless Wisdom Teachings

Resource to learn more about Detachment in The Science of Becoming Oneself.
Learn more about Ageless Wisdom Teachings at TSG University.

By Connie Kadansky, student of Ageless Wisdom Teachings
I have been studying Torkom's books for 13 years.  After re-reading Joy & Healing was particularly moved by the story about Torkom's father handling a dire circumstance as a "great challenge to prove to his Lord that he could begin his service again."

I wanted to see a photograph of Torkom's father and asked Gita if she had a picture of her grandfather.  She shared that there were photographs in Autobiography: Torkom Saraydarian. 

When presented with this thick book, I asked myself "do I have time to read this book?"  After reading the first few pages, it is clear that wisdom is infused on every page.

Am only on page 66 and these are the top three learnings thus far:

1.  Silence is vitally important when we are around people who are suffering. "People heal more quickly when those around them are silent."

2.  Do not sympathize with people who are suffering through words.  It does not help them.  "Our sympathies deprive them of an opportunity to be strong."

3. When we have a real problem to solve, or are feeling hurt or depressed or defeated in any way by the things that happen in life, in solitude we will find real strength that comes from within.  Our minds become clear. Our heart becomes courageous. We will see events more objectively from the point of view of eternity.

My heart is full of gratitude for Torkom's dedication to Ageless Wisdom Teachings.  Highly recommend this book.  If you have read it, please share your comments on this blog. 

By Gita Saraydarian
“In this age we must expand our understanding of the word God.” *

I meditated on God and my universe expanded. My heart became more peaceful; my mind serene.

There is no human being on earth who does not ever ask about God.

God is unfathomable; yet we try. So why ponder on the imponderable?

Because we get parochial otherwise; we want only our “God” to be the one. This creates separatism and shrinks our mind, our world. We do not see other possibilities and views. Our consciousness shrinks. A shrinking consciousness then identifies a turf — then works to protect it — creating ideologies to buttress the view, and then takes action preemptively. Slowly our soul shrinks and we create a space for evil to take root. When the soul shrinks further, we lose our divine connection; evil has free play. Evil does not just come and sit inside of us; we invite it by commission or omission. Then we identify us vs. them; we then make “them” less than us, less human. We see the world as limited.  Less than “us” therefore creates a philosophy of not deserving the privileges and opportunities that we feel we have a right to have. This fractures our inherent moral fiber and we disconnect further from our soul. Then evil takes root ever more deeply and eventually the soul is kicked out; the elementals are in charge. We blame others, the "them” for all our troubles.  It is a predictable death march after that; it will end in death because evil cannot triumph for long; the elementals will return to earth. Evil goes down and takes its body with it. But it is always ready to reactivate itself. Until we “seal the door where evil dwells” it will wait for opportunities to rise up.  We certainly provide many such opportunities.

Have you pondered on the meaning of God?
What are our “Gods”?  Our religious definitions and exclusive identities and

What are your Gods?

What about the leadership of an all pervasive God, one who has breathed through all of us. We return to Him and ask Him: “Come into my life; let me understand as much of you as I can bring into me. Let my soul rise and bloom and never lose contact with You. Let me be as you.”

We say together:“We the members of this Group, we are one in essence.   May our souls rejoice.We are one with humanity.   May our souls rejoice.We are one with all life forms.   May our souls rejoice.We are one with the Sun.   May our souls rejoice.We are one with the life of the Galaxy.   May our souls rejoice.We are one with the stars.   May our souls rejoice.We are one with Infinity.   May our Spirits rejoice.” (Torkom Saraydarian, unpublished writings.)

Repeat this daily. Visualize the expansive universe with each line. Let your soul rejoice in this knowing.

Let your spirit rise and unite with the Spirit of the Universe. Enlarge your space.
Read and meditate on the Raise me Lord to your heart.  Let me embrace all, in one God, the indivisible God of all.
_________________________

Here are three links to some beautiful and inspiring clips from Torkom Saraydarian’s lectures.
The first one is a recitation of the Mantram of Unification. This mantram expresses the need for love, unity and not hate and separatism. It is a powerful mantram to say any time we feel the need for healing and unity. (Link #1: : https://youtu.be/XO6u2VkrIws )

The second one is a recitation of the Great Invocation. It invokes divine light, divine love, and divine power to help humanity seal the door where evil dwell. Where does evil dwell? In our hearts when we are full of hatred, separatism, and when we use religious/spiritual/cultural ideals to rise and have more at the expense of others. (Link #2: https://youtu.be/azm2_aShkiY )

The third one is a very deep and healing meditation and visualization using the Great Invocation. Listen to the selection and let Torkom guide your meditation. Spread these ideas of love and light and divine will into the thought currents of humanity. (Link #3: https://youtu.be/azm2_aShkiY )

I hope you enjoy these selections and I hope that these powerful sounds and rhythms help humanity bring the higher rhythm into our daily lives, conversations, and thoughts. As we sort through the crises that are befalling all of us now, sometimes the best approach is to take a few minutes to link to our inner soul, the spirit in us, recognizing the spirit in each human being, and simply affirming this unity. The chaotic forces will then have no power over our lives.
Gita Saraydarian
Gita Saraydarian is the Founder and President of TSGFoundation, home of all of Torkom Saraydarian’s creative works.

I took a hike in the forest and after a while decided to take a brief rest. I found a fallen pine tree by the side of the stream, and decided that was a good place to sit and take a drink of water and to drink in the beauty. I breathed in the earthy aroma of the forest, spiced with pine and spruce and reached for my canteen. I took a drink and noticed a rock lying on the sand, worn smooth by years of being subjected to the currents. The mid-summer water level was a few feet lower than the crest of the spring runoff, and now the rock sat exposed on the warm sand. As I concentrated on the rock, I noticed its grey and white coloration, punctuated by the occasional sparkle of blue, green, yellow and red. As I moved my head, tiny quartz crystals embedded in the rock served as microscopic prisms that captured a tiny bit of light and sent back a different color back to me.

As I concentrated, I began wondering – where did this rock come from? How did it get here? Who made it? What chain of events and consequences brought it to this place where it would come under my gaze? Why in the world and how did I come upon this rock right here, and find it worthy of my focus? Working backwards from what brought the rock and me together was a mystery worth solving, and is a journey that covers perhaps four billion years. With the rushing current playing its symphony to its audience of regal trees and forest creatures, my thoughts became one with the scenery and felt great joy. I forgot about myself and began to think about where the rock and I would go from here, not right now, but in the future. In other eight billion years will I be in the same place looking at another rock just like this one, only this time, the rock is human and I am a planet? I am laughing at myself now!

Taking the time to observe, listen and think of my place in the grand Cosmos developed a sense of unity, if only for a brief moment, but in that moment, I experienced harmony. I smiled at my new friend and continued down the trail with a greater sense of appreciation, gratitude and humility. Someday, I suspect the rock and I will meet again.

By J. V. Constas, Student of Ageless Wisdom Teachings
Contact TSG Foundation for information on classes and events.

Let my recent lessons and learning’s help direct me
to being of greater service.
Let me rise above my fears and love all unconditionally.
Let the walls and blockages in my space fall away.
Let Light, Love, and Beauty be restored within me.
Let my thoughts be purified and focused on the Light
within myself and others.
Let Peace reign within the cells of my soul
and down through all the layers to the bottom.
Let my heart be a fountain of Joy.
Let my mind be a fountain of Love.
May I be led where I am honored and valued from Love and Light,
and may I return it tenfold.
Let Love, Light, and Beauty be what radiates, ripples,
and overflows out of me.
May I be restored to full connection with my True Self.
May I shine brightly in the darkness at all times,
to infinity and beyond.
May I be Healed!
May It Be So!

Prayer written by MyEsha S. Maheena, Student of Ageless WisdomContact TSG Foundation for information

By J. V. Constas

I wish I was a child again. Not the innocent, weak and ignorant newborn, but the blank canvas uncluttered by a life of past wins, losses, regrets, failures and successes.
Sometimes, my emotions get the better of me. When they do, I find myself embarrassed or left feeling like I failed. It shouldn’t be so surprising that letting negative emotions take over makes me feel less than human, but why does negativity even exist? Why do we feel “bad” sometimes? After thinking about it with the perspective that only time and experience can provide, it seems that some of the mystery was at least partially handed to me in an earlier time.
As a boy, my family would take vacations in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, known for their dramatic contrasts in elevation, terrain and unique plant, animal and mineral life. The Sierra Nevada range is home to Yosemite National Park and Mammoth Lakes, both extraordinarily beautiful places.
I recall hikes we took to TJ Lake, located near tree line and sitting below the majestic Crystal Crag peak. Crystal Crag stood defiantly above the nearby landscape, brushing up against the sky at 10,300 feet above sea level, unscathed by the ancient glaciers that scraped away much of the surrounding terrain, which in their wake left beautiful valleys filled with trees, streams and wildlife. The waters of TJ Lake were so clear that I could see trout swimming deep below the surface. Small, slow moving, streams gently fed the lake from one end, sourced from the melting pure snowpack above. On the opposite end of the lake, another stream flowed out and down the hill, feeding other lakes below and creating a vibrant habitat for abundant ferns, pines, spruce, small animals and brightly colored birds. To me, TJ Lake was everything I had imagined of what the forest primeval would be like.
On one of our hikes to TJ Lake, we were having such a good time fishing, searching for frogs and drinking in the beauty, we didn’t notice the sun set behind the rim above the lake. Darkness would be approaching soon and my parents decided it was time to head back to the trailhead on the opposite side. The alpine bowl in which the lake sat got darker by the minute as we made our way back.
Just before heading into the trees and down the trail, something tugged at us, compelling us to turn around and get one last look at the lake and the rocky outpost of the towering crag. Our presence of mind to obey the call was rewarded by a striking view of the full Moon arcing across the indigo sky towards Crystal Crag. The Moon was reflected so perfectly in the still waters that I almost thought I was looking at two; as if I was standing on a distant planet orbited by dual satellites. Looking closer, the still and perfect waters formed a flat liquid surface on which the Moon, emerging Milky Way and the entire cosmos were reflected, creating an image of infinite beauty here on Earth.
Over 30 years have passed since my feet tread the path at TJ Lake, but it is only now that I realize the full significance of that experience and how it illustrated the nature of our emotions. Our emotional body behaves very much like a mountain lake. When it is still and purified from negativity, the emotional body can reflect the beauty of the creation that surrounds us back into the world – to our families, friends, colleagues, spouses and children.

But, just like the lake, if the algae of greed and jealousy grow unfettered, they will clog the nourishing streams of joy from the Most High. Too much want and desire sucks the oxygen out of the water, killing the little fish of goodwill and positive relationships – things like smiles, handshakes and embraces. If I allow my emotional paradise to be polluted with toxic hate and revenge, then I poison the downstream environment, killing the budding aspirations, hopes and dreams of others. When I disturb the surface with ripples of irritation, waves of frustration and tides of anger and regret, my emotional lake is a poor reflecting pool for the Divinity that is all around us.
Through discipline and observation, we can still the waters.
When it is calm, my emotional mirror is free to reflect beauty and joy back into the world. By being detached, I can observe my emotions in a way that even though I still feel them, I am not controlled by them. When they do control me, it is like someone dropped a boulder into the waters, distorting the view and creating disharmony in my relationships. Every time I learn something new about what triggers a negative response, I grow stronger and each insight acts like a new, sturdy spruce tree on the lake’s edge, protecting the surface from the sometimes violent winds of the mundane world.
Now, the legs of my soul are stronger, and I stand more confidently above my emotional lake as an observer, much like I once did as a boy at the real TJ Lake. As that boy, I will plant more trees to guard it against the powerful winds of materialism, desire, greed and ego. I will cleanse it from accumulated impurities and the trash that others have left on the trail.
With persistence, day after day, week after week, year after year, life after life, then indeed I will have purified my emotional lake, giving God a worthy reflecting pool here on Earth – a mirror of joy. And, if I look close enough into a purified nature, I can see my true self (and yours too!) – The Image of the Almighty in which I was created looking back at me.___________________

Blog written by J.V. Constas, student of the Ageless Wisdom
Contact TSG Foundation for more information

By Robert Constas, M.D.
             During his recent trip to the United States, the Pope advised not to legalize marijuana.  His concern is shared by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.  The Pope and the Academy are aware that alcohol is more dangerous than marijuana.   Alcohol removes the control over the emotional brain and exaggerates whatever emotion is prominent in the emotional brain.  
            Compared to alcohol the effect of marijuana is much more subtle.  Recent research shows that long-term regular use of marijuana can lower the intelligent quotient by 8 to 10%.  This can decrease academic functioning especially in adolescents because their brains are still developing. Marijuana and alcohol affect the adolescent brain more than the brain of adults.
            Chronic and frequent use of marijuana leads to diminished motivation to study, to achieve, to improve and to look for a job.  This is called the amotivational syndrome.  It can make a person lazy.
            These problems can be summarized in what I call the SLC Syndrome.  Regular use of marijuana can make a person Stupid, Lazy and Crazy.  This is said with the qualifiers stated above.  This is more of a problem with adolescents than with adults because of the increased susceptibility of the adolescent brain to be damaged by toxic substances.
            I warn parents who smoke marijuana in the home that children who inhale the smoke of marijuana can be affected.  This is especially true with children because the brains of children are even more susceptible to damage by toxic substances than the brains of teenagers. 
            There is now much controversy about adult use of marijuana.  People often say that their use of marijuana is less harmful than alcohol.  You may wonder about the medical use for marijuana.  There are hundreds of endocannabinoids made by the brain itself.  The major problem seems to be with THC, tetrahydrocannabinol.  This is the chemical that produces the SLC syndrome.  There was a recent television program about marijuana that showed the benefits for treating an uncontrolled seizure disorder.  This was a cannabinoid called CBD, cannabadiol. 
It is important for parents to know some of this technical data, because you can be sure that teenagers are looking up information on the internet and will argue that legal alcohol is more harmful than marijuana.  They say marijuana should be legal also.  Marijuana can lower their intelligence quotient. 
CBD so far does not seem to produce the SLC syndrome.  Chronic pain can be alleviated by some cannabinoids.  The endocannabinoids made in the brain itself work to modulate the action of neurotransmitters, thus helping the brain to function better.  However, that is not the case with THC.  THC is the marijuana chemical that people really want to use most of all.  Much research needs to be done, but this is very difficult to do because the Food and Drug Agency refuses to allow it at this time. It is possible that cannabinoids other than CBD may be found that have therapeutic uses without the harmful effects of THC.
The legalization of marijuana for recreational use has grave implications.  Once the complete legalization takes effect marijuana {including THC} will be available widely and adults who are bored with life may start using it.  Then teenagers will start using it, being supplied by adult friends or buying it illegally.  Their academic progress will slow as they have less intelligence and motivation to study. We may find that creative thinking and technological innovation decrease, and the United States would fall behind in academic and innovative areas.
In my professional opinion, I am with the Pope on this one:  Do not legalize Marijuana. Do not use Marijuana. Do not let your children use it. Keep your brain healthy, you will need it for your entire life.
______________________________________
Dr. Robert Constas, M.D. is a Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist.  He is also a Board Member of TSG Foundation and TSG Spiritual University. - TSG Spiritual University provides home study meditation courses and in-depth esoteric education for students worldwide. Complete catalog is available online. Contact us for information on how to begin and what courses to take.
- Esoteric health and wellness are explained in detail in the following books by Torkom Saraydarian: 
New Dimensions in Healing and Esoteric Science of Healing. These books are invaluable resources for leading a healthy and joyful life.
- TSG Foundation provides resources for spiritual health and expansion of consciousness using the Teachings of the Ageless Wisdom.

By J. V. Constas

It is human nature to love mystery. People instinctively love to read mystery books and enjoy movies that lead them down a path of confusing plot twists, a series of seemingly chaotic, unrelated events peppered with exotic characters, contradictory relationships and engaging dialogue. At first, we see only the symptoms and outer events, and our preconceived notions and entrenched opinions often lead us astray. As the storyteller reveals the plot, however, and the true cause is revealed, we are rewarded with understanding. There is something inherently satisfying to this process, and why we all love a good story. Appreciating a good mystery seems almost pre-programmed into human nature, and after reading more of Initiation, it is clear why that is the case. As I have come to learn, there is far more to my Self than previously anticipated! That I am conscious of perhaps only six percent of my true nature means there is much hidden behind the curtains of illusion, vanity, ego and habit. What lies behind the barriers in front of me is indeed mysterious.


I, like most people, intuitively feel that there is more to this world than what meets the eye. Something greater, more powerful and beautiful is beckoning from behind matter, and I know it wants to fill me with light, love and energy. The magnet tugs at me, but barriers stand in the way.If the Path of Initiation has been laid down by the Great Storyteller, God, then we are the authors of our own individual books as we find our way through this and future lives. The pens that we use to write our personal stories are the talents, skills and abilities that we develop and use to bring higher ideas, values and beauty into this world with our labor, creativity, compassion and service. The mark that we leave behind is not our name on buildings that will eventually crumble, or even on books that will at some point anonymously fade into history as humanity’s consciousness advances, but rather our mark will be left on the hearts, minds and the characters of others that we have influenced. I hope that I am writing with a good pen!

If we choose to walk the Path, then we must also maintain trust in the process and that through our discipline, aspiration and perseverance the mystery will unfold, and we will meet our true Self. Knowing that Great Ones have trail blazed the Path ahead of us is a great comfort, but it by no means diminishes the difficulty, stakes or achievement of our own journeys, as each is unique and valuable. By Their example, we know it can be done, but we still have to do the work ourselves. There is no need to reach for a novel, escape to a movie or otherwise look outward for satisfaction, because I am a mystery to myself and the challenge of solving the greatest mystery on Earth stands right in front of me, every day as I look in the mirror.
__________________________________

-  J.V. Constas is a student of the Ageless Wisdom.
- Initiation The Path of Living Service,  by Torkom Saraydarian is available through TSG Foundation. Meditation courses are also available. Please contact TSG Foundation for more information or visit the meditation page on TSG's Website.